Frequently Asked Questions
what is cow by bear?
Cow by Bear is the vision of an Alaskan brown bear named Chef Bear. Started out of Bear's apartment in 2011, Cow by Bear is now a highly regarded dinner party experience operating out of one of several secret San Diego locations. Dinners take on various evenings at 7pm. Each dinner is reserved to 20 guests in a communal, social setting. Dinner dates are released about 2-4 weeks in advance and fill up quickly! Follow us on instagram for updates on new date releases @cowbybear.
Cow by Bear is not just a dinner; it is a dinner party experience where you can expect to not only eat a world class meal cooked by a bear, but leave with new friends. We look forward to spending an evening with you.
Who is bear?
Chef Bear is an Alaskan brown bear known the world over for his pop-up experiences. After escaping from a traveling circus in his youth, Bear is said to have had an awakening in which he learned to walk, talk and, ultimately, cook. Since then, he has traveled the globe, putting on dinners of all kinds on every continent.
How can i make a reservation?
Cow by Bear operates under a special ticketing system, where guests purchase tickets online for an available dinner, much like purchasing tickets for a concert or sporting event. Simply visit our tickets page for San Diego here, select your party size and available date. You'll be asked to make payment to purchase your tickets and your reservation will be complete.
Can i reserve the entire table of 20?
Yes, as long as 20 seats are available for the dinner of your choice, you can reserve all 20 seats. If you have any further questions regarding a private party, please email Bear directly at info@cowbybear.com.
When are dinners?
Cow by Bear hosts dinners in San Diego and each month will have different availability. Bear will release date approximately 1 month in advance. There are no walk-ins. Additional private events are available at your request. Simply email Bear at info@cowbybear.com to inquire.
How much does it cost?
Dinner is $195 per person and includes 5(+) courses paired with fine wines and/or cocktails depending on that season’s menu.
What does a ticket include?
Dinner is five courses. Upon arriving, guests receive an amuse bouche and welcome beverage. The main courses are then paired with expertly curated fine wine or cocktails. Gratuity and service fee is included in your ticket price.
What does communal seating mean?
Guests sit together at a table for 20. You'll enter as strangers but leave as friends.
how will i know where the dinner is?
The day before your dinner you will receive an email from Bear with the address and additional details for the evening. If you do not receive the email, please email Bear directly at info@cowbybear.com.
Can you accommodate allergies?
Due to the paw-crafted and painstaking menu development and small and nimble nature of our dinner experience we are unable to modify our menu. Upon booking you will be given the option to select our regular menu or a vegetarian option. These menus are posted on our website for you to review if you are concerned about dietary restrictions. We ask that you review carefully and notify our team of allergies so they are able to alert you to any course that may pose an issue. If you find you are unable to have multiple courses due to restrictions and allergies, please check back in the new season as our menus do change often and might be more friendly in the future.
can you accommodate vegetarians?
The Cow by Bear menu is designed for meat-eaters. That said, we want our dinners to be as inclusive as possible and welcome vegetarians with advance notice. As long as we are given at least two weeks notice we are available to accommodate most requests.
How far in advance can i make a reservation?
Dates are released 2-4 weeks in advance. To keep up to date with new releases please use our website to sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on instagram @cowbybear
Do you have a waitlist or cancellation list?
Yes, you are able to add yourself to a waitlist on our ticketing system. You can find the ticketing system here.
what happens if i don't show up on time?
Dinner starts promptly at 7pm, and it is important to your dinner experience and the experience of the other guests that you arrive on time. Please keep in mind that we are not able to delay the start of dinner or offer discounts to your meal if you show up late.
is there a dress code?
There is no dress code. Be comfortable.
Are kids allowed?
Dinners are reserved for guests 21 and over.
ticketing system log-out times
Please be aware that you will have 10 minutes to complete your transaction once tickets are selected. If you exceed the allotted time, you will be signed out and the tickets will be released into our system for other guests.
Why do you use a ticket system?
Ticketing allows us to anticipate who is coming in to properly prepare the meal to the best of our abilities. It also allows us to operate in the most efficient way, which makes for a better dinner party experience.
Can i get a refund or exchange my ticket?
Much like attending a concert or sporting event, all sales are final. If you cannot come, we recommend you transfer your ticket to someone else. If you'd like to inquire about transferring your ticket to another date, please email Bear at info@cowbybear.com and we'll do our best to help accommodate this.
can i give my ticket away or sell it?
Yes. The ticket is completely transferable although selling the tickets for more than face value may be illegal in your area. If purchasing a ticket from another ticket holder, you must make sure you receive a formal transfer of the ticket through our official website. Any ticket purchased on the secondary market are at the purchaser's risk and not recommended. We cannot accept responsibility for forgeries of misrepresentations on any ticket not transferred through our system.
How do i transfer my ticket?
To transfer a ticket, log into your account, go to the "My Account" area using the upper right navigation pane and select "Your Tickets." Each ticket has a transfer button next to it.
Do you take walk-ins?
No. You must purchase tickets in advance to attend a dinner.
Do you allow corkage?
We are unable to allow outside alcohol of any kind at our dinners.
May i increase the size of my party?
You may increase the size of your party as long as tickets are still available for the dinner you are attending. If your party increases and additional tickets are not available, we recommend transferring your tickets and making a reservation for a future date.